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ViewAttendees 2

Poster Presentation

Social Justice and Health Equity

Thursday Poster Power Hour

THURS-037 - Breaking the Silence: Youth-led Initiatives Against Human Trafficking Through Empowerment and Education

Thursday, April 17, 2025
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM PST
Location: Pacific I/II, 2nd Floor
Area of Responsibility: Area V: Advocacy
Subcompetencies: 3.2 Deliver health education and promotion interventions., 6.5 Deliver the message(s) effectively using the identified media and strategies.
Research or Practice: Practice

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Karissa Garza

    High school student
    Fresno High School, Fresno Unified School District
    Fresno, California, United States

    Handouts

  • Arriana E. Bertoldi (she/her/hers)

    high school student
    Fresno High School, Fresno Unified School district
    Fresno, California, United States

  • Harriet Van Houten

    high school student
    Fresno High School, Fresno Unified School district
    Fresno, California, United States

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
  • Learn the strategies high school students use to create educational programs on human trafficking that engage both their peers and healthcare professionals, promoting awareness and advocacy.
  • Gain skills to include peer-led programs in schools, clinical settings, or community outreach efforts, providing practical tools to support and empower young people as social justice and health equity advocates.
  • To learn how to use the given skills and apply them to supporting and informing others in different situations or with different lifestyles than our own.
Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how high school students are making a real difference in raising awareness about human trafficking through creative educational programs. These students have developed resources to help their peers, pediatric residents, and pediatricians recognize and understand the issue. Discover the research and strategies they used to create age-appropriate, engaging materials, and see the impact of youth-led education and teamwork between students and healthcare professionals. Through hands-on activities, you'll experience some of the students' unique teaching methods. You’ll leave with practical ideas to bring youth-led advocacy into your own work, supporting future social justice and health equity leaders.

Detailed abstract description: Join us for an eye-opening session about how high school students are stepping up to educate others on human trafficking. At a time when understanding social justice issues is crucial, see how these students have developed impactful educational programs to reach their classmates, doctors, and medical trainees.

What’s in it for you? Hear directly from the students about their journey in learning about human trafficking and creating a variety of educational programs to inform peers, pediatric residents, and adolescent doctors about how to identify youth at high risk to become trafficked as well as how to identify potential victims of human trafficking. See how they use creative, age-appropriate activities to get people talking about this important topic and making a difference.

Learn the research and planning strategies they used to develop effective educational tools that you can bring to your own community, school, or other clinical setting. This session highlights the power of youth-led education and the value of youth and healthcare professionals working together to reach those who need this information most.

You’ll participate in hands-on demos of the students' activities, showing just how effective peer-led learning can be. Whether you’re a teacher, healthcare provider, or community organizer, you’ll leave with new ideas for bringing youth-led education into your own work. Join us to explore ways we can all support and amplify youth voices to build a safer, more informed future.